Hinged last



Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES HIN GED LAST Application October 1, 1934, Serial No.

18 Claims. (Cl. 12-136) This invention relates to hinged lasts and has for its object the production of a novel connector between the two parts of the last which will hold and from each other at intermediate points.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawing, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously organized, and the invention is not instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

Of the drawing Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a two-part last, the two parts of which are hinged together by a connector embodying the principles of the present invention, the last being shown extended.

Figure 2 represents a similar section showing the last shortened.

Figure 3 represents a horizontal section of a portion of the last, on line 3, 3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 represents an elevation of an outer plate forming a part of the hinge connection.

Figure 5 represents an elevation of the inner plate of said hinge connection.

Figure 6 represents an elevation of a modied form of hinge connection with an actuating spring therein.

Figure 7 represents an elevation of the inner plate of the mo-died form of hinge connection, and

Figure 8 represents a plan of the spring of said hinged connections.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several gures of the drawing.

In the drawing, I is the fore part of a divided last having formed in its rear face a curved depression II extending transversely thereof.

The heel part I2 has formed on its front face .a semi-cylindrical projection I3 adapted to be positioned in the depression II and contact with the wall thereof.

'I'he depression II is semi-cylindrical and has a radius slightly exceeding that of the semicylindrical projection I3.

Owing to the differences in the radii of the projection I3 and depression II, the outer surface of the projection I3 will not contact with the surface of the depression II at the topy and bottom thereof.

'I'he fore part I0 is provided with a vertical slot I 4 in its rear end which is alined with a similar slot I formed in the front end of the heel part I2.

In the slots I4, I5 are disposed a plurality of hinged elements or links I6, I1 and I8, these links being of hardened steel and provided with holes I9, ISLE in the opposite ends thereof, the hole I9.r being elongated as shown in the drawing while the holes I9 are cylindrical.

Through these holes I9, I9x extend hardened steel pins 20 positioned in the fore part I0 and heel part I2 and extending transversely of the links I6, I1 and I8 and midway of the length thereof are openings 2|.

When the links I6, I'I and I8 are disposed in the slots I4 and I5, the central links I'I will be oppositely disposed to the outer links I6 and IB, or in other words the holes I9 in the outer links I6 and I8 will be at the left as in the drawing while the hole I9 of the middle link I'l will be at the right.

By providing in each link I6, I1 and I8 cylindrical pin holes I9 and elongated pin holes |91:

operation of the last in shortening or lengthening.

curved spring 24 as shown in Fig. 6, the ends of which are anchored in the notches 25.

In either case the springs 22 and 24 have a width equal to the combined thickness of the three links I6, I7 and I8 and when positioned in the openings 2| link I1 to move endwise relatively to the outer links I6, I8, thus increasing the length of the hinge connection.

Built up in this manner the hinge connection is complete in itself and may be sold by itself lasts and then apply the hinge connection thereto. When the last is straightened as shown in Fig.

1 of the drawing, a portion of the periphery of the semi-cylindrical projection I3 will be held in rigid contact with the central portion of the depressions II and the center line a, a, of the links I6, I1 and I8 will be considerably below the axis 26 of the projection I3.

When shortening the last by moving the fore part I0 about the axis 26 and relatively to the heel part I2, said axis 2B must move toward the bottom of the last and pass across the line a, a, (indicated in Fig. 2) drawn between the centers of the pins 20.

Owing to this center line a, a being well below the axis 26 of the projection I3, the fore part can be moved about said axis in order to shorten the last only by applying great pressure thereto.

As this pressure is applied to the fore part to move it about said axis 26, the links I5, I1 and I8 will move sufficiently relatively to each other to permit this movement and then return to their normal position.

Even when the last is shortened and in the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, lt is only by applying considerable pressure to the fore part that it may be moved about the axis 26 to extend the last into the position indicated in Fig. 1.

As a consequence, the two parts IIJ, I2 of the last are connected in such a manner that the last is very rigid when in either shortened or extended position.

It will be noted that upon breaking the last when in its extended position, the last will immediately commence to shorten.

In the preferred form of hinge connection shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the centers of the curved springs 22, contact with each other and when the central link I1 is moved relatively to links I6, I8 from its normal position to lengthen the hinge connection, the springs will be slightly buckled but as soon as the lengthening of the hinge connection is no longer required the springs 22 willreturn the links I6, I1 and I8 to their normal positions.

The same action occurs when the single spring 24 is used.

The links I6, I1 and I8 forming the hinged connection between the pivot pins 20 of the fore part I0 and heel part I2 may be quickly and cheaply constructed thereby reducing the expense of manufacture.

Obviously when a shoe is on a last and being operated upon in the manufacture thereof, it is quite essential that the last should have a great degree of rigidity and this result is produced very effectually by the construction herein shown and described.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A two-part last, the parts of which are movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; transverse pins in said parts extending across said slots; a connector in said slots through the opposite ends of which said pins extend, sa'd connector consisting of a plurality of plates having elongated openings therein, one of said plates having an elongated in hole in one end and another having an elongated pin hole in the opposite end; and a curved spring plate within said openings and engaging both plates between said pins.

2. A two-part last, the parts of which are movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; a hinge connection between said parts disposed in said slots consisting of three contacting plates, the center plate being movable endwise relatively to the outer plates; and means coacting with all of said plates for retaining said last parts normally in shortened position.

3. A two-part last, the parts of which are movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; a hinge connection between said parts disposed in said slots consisting of three contacting plates, the center plate being movable endwise relatively to the outer plates; and a spring confined within and engaging all of said plates for retaining said last parts normally .in shortened position.

4. A two-part last, the parts of which are movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; a hinge connection between said parts disposed in said slots consisting 'f of three contacting plates, the center plate being movable endwise relatively to the outer plates; and two curved flat spring plates with their centers in contact and their ends coacting with all of said plates for retaining said last parts normally in shortened position.

5. A two-part last, the parts of which are movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; a hinge connection between said parts disposed in said slots consisting of three contacting plates, the center plate being movable endwise relatively to the outer plates; and an arcuate nat spring positioned in an elongated opening in and with its ends engaging all of said plates for retaining said last parts normally in shortened position.

6. A two-part last, the parts of which are movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; a hinge connection between said parts comprising a plurality of contiguous plates movable endwise relatively to each other, said connection axis being below the axis of the last when it is extended; pins in said last parts extending through the opposite ends of all of said plates; and means confined within said plates whereby the hinge connection may be lengthened during the movement of said parts relatively to each other and then be shortened at the end of said movement.

'7. A two-part last, the parts of which have abutting curved surfaces movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; transverse pins in said parts extending across said slots; a connector in said slots for retaining said surfaces in contact and through the opposite ends of which said pins extend, said connector consisting of a plurality of plates having elongated openings therein, one of said plates having an elongated pin hole in one end and another having an elongated pin hole in the opposite end; and a curved spring plate engaging both plates between said pins.

8. A two-part last, the parts of which have abutting curved surfaces movable about a predetermined axis and provided with alined vertical slots; a connector in said slot with its ends pivotally connected to said parts adapted to retain said surfaces in contact and consisting of a plurality of plates having movement endwise relatively to each other; pins in said last parts extending through the opposite ends of all of said plates; and means conned within and coacting with said plates for retaining the last parts normally in shortened position.

9. A two-part last, the parts of which have Cil retaining said last parts normally in shortened movable endwise relatively to each other, said position.

10. A two-part last, the parts of which have When it is extended; pins in said last parts exrelatively to the outer plates; and means confined 15. A hinge connection for a two-part last Within said plates for retaining said parts norconsisting of a plurality of plates havingelonmally in shortened position. gated central openings therein and pin holes at l1. A two-part last, the parts of which have opposite ends, one of which is cylindrical and the abutting curved surfaces movable about a predeother elongated, the cylindrical hole of one plate slots; a hinge connection between said parts displate; and a spring member disposed in said openposed in said slots adapted to retain said surfaces ings with its ends engaging all of said plates.

plates, the center plate being movable enclwise sisting of a plurality of plates having elongated relatively to the outer plates; and a at spring central openings therein and pin holes at oppoconned Within and engaging all of said plates site ends, one of which is cylindrical and the for retaining said last parts normally in shortened other elongated, the cylindrical hole of o-ne plate position. being opposite the elongated hole of an adjacent relatively to the outer plates; and confined within y other elongated, the cylindrical hole of one plate normally in shortened position. means preventing lateral separation of said 13. A two-part last, the parts of which have plates. abutting curved surfaces movable about a prede- 18. A hinge connection `for a two-part last contermined axis and provided with alined vertical sisting of a plurality of plates having elongated engaging all of said plates for retaining said last parts normally in shortened position. EUGENE J. DUMAS. 

